The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-09-08
SACOS SENSATION.
Ono of its Banks Robbed of $780, 900 by
1O-year-Old Clerk.

q 10-year-Old Clerk.
Saco, Me-, has now the biggest sensation it
has ever experienced. The Saco and Biddeford
Savings Institution, one of the Oldest and
strongest savings banks in Maine, has suffered
severely through an absconding clerk,
Frank c. McNeily 10 years old, who has
been employed in the bank for about one
year, has mysteriously disappeared, taking
with him $500 in cash, United States regis
tered per cent. bonds, payable in 1907,
amounting to s1s5,OOO and railroad, NUM-
cipal and other bonds, amounting, as near as
can now be determined, to about S91 ,000
large amount of gold and currency, which
McNeily could have stolen easily, was unmo-
lested
Great excitement prevails as McNeily was
considered one of the most trustworthy
young men in the city. The president, trus-
tees and cashier of the bank placed the great
est confidence in him. He was acquainted
with the combination of every lock in the
bank vaults
President Goodale was interviewed and
said that, as the loss is so much less than the
surplus, the bank will be perfectly safe, even
if the amount taken by the absconding clerk
is never recovered. But the slS5,00O in
United States registered bonds cannot posi-
bly, be used by the thief
McNeily is 10 years old, 5 feet II inches in
height, weight 145 pounds, and has dark
hair, smooth face ard fair complexion.
He stands very erect when walking. is OF
good figure, and would be called handsome.
When he left he did not change his clothing,
but wore working suit. He had on light,
mixed coat, dark worstei pants and congress
shoes
The examiner says that if the statement
given in the papers as to the amount stolen
from the safe by the clerk while the treasur-
er was absent one half day is absolutely true,
the bank will be able to pay all its depositors
and creditors and then have surplus of
100000. The banks surplus is 1858, 501.A,
as given after his last examination of the
bank March 16 last. Of the amount stolen by
McNeilys the examiner says, S1S0,000
is in United States registered bonds
and they will be of no value to
the robber. ''The bank" said he "even if
it fail to recover any portion of the amount
stolen, can pay the depositors 1870 cents ON
dollar" In concluding the interview the
examiner said that as at present informed,
the only criticism that could be made of the
conduct of the officers of the bank is in their
allowing boy who had been in the employ
OF the bank in subordinate position for
only, one year to have knowledge of the
| combination of the locks of the Safes
| Pinkerton's agency has been put in posses
sion of the facts in the case, and detectives
are out in search of him. 1t is generally be-
| lieved that he has made successful trip
across the border, and joined the American
colony in Canada.
M'NEILY's HISTORY.
| Some say he has been dabbling in stock
through a friend, which is not at all i'm
probable, considering the fact that one
of his friends, who has neither money
to spare nor nerve to make investments
on his own account, is said to have
made clever rake in Atchison
the other day. Others are of opinion
that he has been influenced by
outside parties, and that he took the step he
did at their instigation. The most plausible
theory, however, is that his inordinate love
for dress and fondness for social pleasure,
which his meagre salary would not permit
him to indulge in, led him to commit the fatal
error that h,.s rendered him an exile from
home and friends, and brought disgrace upon
himself and family. Young McNeily has led
life of extravaganza of late being one of
the leaders in the social world of Saco
His manner of living and dress have
been frequently commented upon by those
who knew his Strengthened financial condi-
ton He has been paying attention to one
of the most prominent young society ladies
| in Saco and it has been rumored that they
were engaged and about to be married
| Heretofore he has been considered an ex-
emplary young man, pattern for the youth
| of Saco to follow, but since his present
trouble has been made public, little stories
have come out which lead to the belief that
he has not always been as upright as was
supposed. 1t is pretty generally thought,
| however, that he is not the only one con-
cerned in the transaction, and that later de-
velopments will show that other and older
| heads planned what he executed.
! 1t is possible that thorough examination
of the banks books may reveal a system of
defalcation wherein those who have made
deposits lately have received no credit on the
books of the institution. Such a thing
would be comparatively easy to accomplish,
and if the robbery was long contemplated, it
| is almost certain to have occurred. In any
case, however the institution is thoroughly
| solvent. Since its establishment in 1927, it
| was never in more prosperous condition
than now. If depositors are required to give
80 days notice, in accordance with its bylaws,
it is only adopted as a safeguard that all may
secure their just dues.